Urban violence and public health in Latin America: a sociological explanatory framework

Abstract

Interpersonal violence has become one of the main public health issues in Latin American cities. This article presents a framework for sociological interpretation that operates on three levels, expressed in the factors that originate, foment, or facilitate violence. Macro-social factors include: social inequality due to the increase in wealth versus poverty; the paradox of more schooling with fewer employment opportunities; increasing expectations and the impossibility of meeting them; changes in family structure; and loss of importance of religion in daily life. At the meso-social level the analysis highlights: increased density in poor areas and urban segregation; masculinity cult; and changes in the local drug market. The micro-social level includes: an increase in the number of firearms; alcohol consumption; and difficulties in verbal expression of feelings. The article concludes with an analysis of how violence is leading to the breakdown not only of urban life but also of citizenship as a whole in Latin America.

Mortes e crimes cometidos com armas de fogo na cidade autônoma de Buenos Aires, 2002

“…These readings help to explain what has been repeatedly found in various studies 1,6,28,29,30,31 and in this paper as well. Adolescent and young males appear as the most affected by violent deaths in general and by homicide in particular.…”

“…What strikes, what is peculiar is the high fatality rate associated with violent incidents involving the use of a firearm 2 . Once again, the findings of this and other studies 1,2,4,5,6,8,28,29 show the special relevance of firearms in violent deaths, particularly in homicide deaths.…”

Alcohol and violence in the emergency department: a regional report from the WHO collaborative study on alcohol and injuries

“…I njuries, especially violence-related injuries, are a key component of the burden of disease in the Latin American region; [1][2][3] alcohol was associated with 33% of intentional accidents and 26% of non-intentional accidents. It was also estimated that 24% of homicides, 11% of suicides and 20% of traffic accidents in the area were associated with alcohol.…”

Seguridad humana y salud pública

“…Violence and injuries are another public health and human security concern in this region. A recent analysis of homicides shows that the Region of the Americas holds one of the highest rates of homicides in the world-close to 30 per 100 000 population, whereas in Mexico, and especially along the northern border communities, that rate is almost double this regional statistic (4). The global economic crisis has, likewise, had a dramatic impact in lower-resource border communities where instability in the job and housing markets has resulted in lost family incomes and homes, which have repercussions for health and the other dimensions of human security.…”